
BOOK OF TR€ WORDS 

OOTOBflR 7'ss. TO 12'!21912 



Price, 25 Cents 



ISl El 

THE WORDS 
OF THE PAGEANT 

Philadelphia 
October 7-12, 1912 

By 

FRANCIS HOWARD WILLIAMS 

With notes and adaptations to the field by 
ELLIS PAXSON OBERHOLTZER 

Master of the Pageant 

Cover Design and Color Studies by 
CHARLES H. STEPHENS 



Historical Pageant Committee 
1912 



[g] [a| 



■37 
■WJZ 



Copyright, 1912 

by 

ELLIS PAXSON OBERHOLTZER 



f CI.A32719S 



Cpisobes; of ti)t pageant 

PROLOGUE 

Exploration and Settlement 

EPISODE I 

SCENE I 
The Coming of William Penn 

SCENE II 

The Granting of the Charter to 
Pennsylvania 

EPISODE II 

The Return of the Tea Ship "Polly" 

EPISODE III 

SCENE I 

Arrival of the Delegates to the Conti- 
nental Congress 

SCENE II 
The Declaration of Independence 

EPISODE IV 

SCENE I 
The Battle of Germantown 

SCENE II 

The British in Philadelphia 

SCENE III 
The Meschianza 



The Historical Pageant 



EPISODE V 

Franklin at the Court of France 

EPISODE VI 

SCENE I 
The Federal Procession 

SCENE II 

President Washington at Gray's 
Gardens 

SCENE III 
Echoes of the French Revolution 

EPISODE VII 

The War of 1812 

EPISODE VIII 

Lafayette's Reception 

EPILOGUE 

The Gathering of the Districts 



Cfje OTorbS of tlje pageant 



PROLOGUE 



INTRODUCTION 

The arena is a wide meadow, with green hanks sloping to a river. Trumpets 
announce the Pageant. A Herald rides up the Held and pausing, proclaims: 



Ye who would learn the glory of your past 
And form a forecast of the things to be, 

Give heed to this a city's trumpet-blast 
And see her pictured life in pageantry. 



A mounted knight in silver armor, typifying the spirit of exploration and 
adventure, silently crosses the Held. Sprites enter from all sides and, beckoning 
to the east, disappear as quickly as they came. 



CHORUS 

Here where the river is breaking its heart in the ocean 
Shall come mighty leaders, undaunted, intrepid, 
Born with the mien of command and the power 
Far-seeing and silent. 



SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

The past thro' lessening vistas stretches back 
Till in the green of English lanes and all 

The lowland meadows and the Norse fiords 
We see the forbears of a later brawn. 



8 The Historical Pageant 



SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

Rather the future hath the nobler view, 

For see ! An inward prescience opens wide 

The gateway of the glories yet to be — 

The time to come when on these banks shall rise 

The kindly habitations of men strong 

To wrest from nature life's beatitude. 

CHORUS 
Whether in memory or in forecast, here 
We have a mighty drama, whose large scenes 
Enfold the birth and nurture into strength 
Of a great people fashioned in God's ways 
To bear His banner forth. 



SCENE I 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

To the Dutch is accorded the honor of first visiting the waters now known as 
Delaware Bay. Henry Hudson, an English navigator in the Dutch service, anchored his 
yacht, the Halve Maan or Half Moon, at the mouth of the Bay, on August 28, 1609, 
before proceeding north to view the site of New Amsterdam or New York and for the 
Kscent of the river which bears his narne. That river the Dutch soon called the North 
River and the Delaware the South River. Another Dutch boat built at New York 
of only 16 tons burden, the "Onrust" or "Restless," commanded by Captain Hendrickson 
visited the Delaware in the summer of 1615. The first Dutchmen to attempt a settle- 
ment on the South River were members of a party brought here by Captain Cornelia 
Jacobsen Mey, (whence Cape May) in 1623 or 1624. He came to the present site of 
Gloucester, N. J., and erected a stockade fort there, called Fort Nassau, which was the 
stronghold of the Dutch in the southern parts of the colony of New Netherland for 
many years. It was in sight of the forests of Passaiung, Wicaco and Coquanoc. In 
a year or two the small colony which was planted here disappeared. The settlers 
and fur traders of which it was composed made their way to their friends on Man- 
hattan Island. A number of the directors of the Dutch West India Company soon 
formed a syndicate to possess themselves of and utilize the lands of the South River. 
They constituted themselves patroons or feudal chiefs of the country, and with a 
view to actual colonization engaged the services of David Pietersen de Vries of Hoorn. 
He was a skipper who had lately returned from a long cruise to the East Indies. The 
first expedition made up of a sloop and a yacht under command of Captain Peter 
Heyse came out in 1631. De Vries did not accompany it. The party landed in a creek 
called Hoern Kill, presumably in honor of Hoorn in Holland, soon corrupted into 
Hoerkill or Horekill, now Lewes Creek, in lower Delaware state. Here a house was 
erected and surrounded with palisades. It was named Fort Oplandt and the little 
settlement was called Swaannendael (the vale or valley of the swans). The principal 
objects of the colonists were fur trading with the Indians, particularly in beaver skins 
which then abounded, and fishing for whales, then very plentiful in the bay and river. 
De Vries says that the colony numbered two and thirty men. They set up a column 
bearing the arms of Holland on a piece of tin. Some of the Indian sachems tore down 
this emblem and converted the tin into tobacco pipes. This or other incidents led to 
ill feeling and a few months after it was established the entire colony was extirpated. 
De Vries was about to start for America with a second expedition when news reached 
him of the massacre. He came on undeterred by his discouraging advices, and arrived 
before the half burned remains of Fort Oplandt early in 1633. The Lenni Lenape, or 
Delaware Indians who frequented the river banks, were at the time at war with the 
Mengwe or Minquas or Mingoes, a more militant tribe settled in Maryland and in the 
Susquehanna country. 



The Words of the Pageant 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

David Pietersen De Vries, skipper and patroon of Hoorn. 
Heyndrick de Liefde, his cousin, of Rotterdam, 
Peter Heyse, of Edam, captain of the sloop Walrus. 
GiLLiss Hosset, commissary. 
Colonists, with mastiff, cattle, etc. 
Soldiers and sailors with guns from the sloop. 

Indian sachems — Sannoowouns, Wiewit, Pemhacke, Mekowetick, Mathomen, 
Sacook, Anchoopoen, Janquens, Pokahake, Sakimas, Zeepentor, etc. 

The scene represents the landing of the Dutch colonists on the Delaware. 
The Dutch and the Indians mingle upon the Held. 

CHORUS 

See how the Lenni Lenape make friends with the white men, 

Trusting with faith in the faith of a stranger. 

Haply not always doth Peace spread her wings so benignly, 

When men of one race come together to barter and struggle 

In life's competition. Behold, through the greening 

A bold sailor cometh, De Vries the intrepid. 

The scene becomes animated. It represents the settlement of Swaannendael 
on the Horekill or Lewes Creek. The Dutch are planting their colony. Men 
are seen building huts and carrying utensils and materials. Songs of old Hol- 
lofid are sung. A band of Indians enter and salute with cries of "Itah!" They 
join the Dutch in making merry. Captain Heyse gives them schnapps which 
they drink and call it "iire water." He tells them that the stockade shall be called 
Fort Oplandt and the settlement Swaannendael. He and Hosset raise a column 
on which is placed a large tin sign bearing the Dutch arms. 

CHORUS 

Soon shall the clouds gather ominous, dark and forbidding, 
Soon shall the peace pipe be smoked for the last time, 
Soon shall come discord and blood. 

While the Indians play reed pipes and tambourines in their frolic, the Dutch 
give their attention to the river and move off toward the bank. One of the chiefs 
remrOves the tin containing the painted arms of Holland and begins to break it 
up. Soon De Vries and a company of sailors in military order advance up th0 
bank acco-mpanied by Heyse and his company. They meet the chiefs, zvho seat 
themselves with the Dutch in a circle. The pipe of peace is smoked and the Dutch 
are seen paying for the land in merchandise of various kinds. As the negotiations 
draw to an end, the troops march in and occupy Fort Oplandt. The Indians ob- 
serve them closely and begin to manifest signs of suspicion and discontent. 



10 The Historical Pageant 

Heyse draws De Vries' attention to the missing arms. The tin is discovered in a 
crumpled condition on the ground. The pipe of peace is broken and the Indians 
leave hurriedly. 

The whites get within the palisades. Armed men are seen prepai'ing for 
defence. Soon there is heard the war-zvhoop of the Lenni Lenape. They rush 
in and attack the fort. There is a sharp musketry fire from the palisades which 
are finally assaulted by the Indians. The Indians carry the defences, and sounds 
of massacre are heard from within. De Vries is seen at the side of the fort, 
giving directions to a horseman. 

De Vries. — Ride for thy life to the friendly tribe of the Minquas. Tell them 
we perish at the hands of their foes — the tribe of the Delawares. They are 
bounden to us by treaty, and will come forthwith to our aid. Now ride — ride for 
thy life, and God speed thee. 

The horseman dashes off and disappears through the greenery. Meanwhile 
the Lenni Lenape set fire to the fort, ivhich is soon burned to the ground. A war 
dance and a wild chant of victory folloiv. An occasional musket shot from be- 
hind the palisades. Sounds of wailing and cries from zvithin. 

Finally a commotion is heard. A hand of Minquas rushes in and attacks the 
Lenni Lenape. A furious battle ensues. The Dutch and Minquas vanquish the 
Lenni Lenape, who are driven from the field, dead and tvounded being left upon 
the ground. The men of De Vries' party saJly from the ruins of the fort. 



SCENE II 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

A leading influence in the organization and direction of the Dutch West India 
Company, William Usselinx, involved himself in disagreements with his associates and 
laid proposals for a new^ company before the great Gustavus Adolphus. As a result, 
the Swedish West India Company was formed in 1624. Because of the King's con- 
tinental wars the plans of the promoter rested for several years. In 1632 Gustavus 
Adolphus fell on the battlefield of Liitzen, leaving the government in the hands of his 
little daughter Christina and his chancellor Oxenstierna. The company at length made 
its arrangements for the colonization of the lands which the Dutch company had been 
endeavoring to put to some use. Peter Minuit, who had been Director General of 
New Netherland at New Amsterdam from 1626 until 1632, familiar with conditions on 
the North and South Rivers, was employed to head an expedition to America. He 
fitted up two ships, the Kalmar Nyckel (Key of Kalmar) and the Grip (Griffin). With 
soldiers, colonists, cattle, implements and provisions on board, thej^ reached the South 
River after various adventures and delays early in 1638. The crews were half Swedish 
and half Dutch. The colonists, too, were divided in their national origin and fealty. 
The Dutch had by this time re-occupied Fort Nassau at or near the present Gloucester, 
N. J. They forbade the Swedes to ascend the river beyond this point. They protested 
against Swedish settlement at any place on either bank of the great river, within the 
boundaries of what they were pleased to call New Netherland. Minuit, however, entered 
Minquas Kill, renaming it Christina, known to this day as Christiana or Christeen 
Creek. When up about two and a half miles from its mouth he disembarked 
at "The Rocks" on the site of the present city of Wilmington, and built stockades which 
with solemn ceremony he christened Fort Christina. Here he planted his colony. In a 
few months he set sail for home by way of the West Indies, leaving about 25 soldiers 
and settlers behind him. 



The Words of the Pageant li 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 
Peter Minuit, late of the Dutch West India Company, now director of the 

Swedish West India Company's expedition to the South River. 
Mans Kling, in command of the soldiery. 
Hendrick Huygen, commissary. 
Jacob Evertssen Sandelin"! ,. 
Andres Lucassen J 

Jan Hendricksen, skipper on the Kalmar Nyckel. 
Michel Symonssen, first mate. 
Andrian Joransen, skipper on the Grip. 
Rev. Reorus Torkillus, the first preacher in New Sweden. 
Jan Jansen, Governor Kieft's representative at Fort Nassau. 
Mattahoon, Mitatsimint and other Indian chieftains 
Soldiers, seamen and colonists from the two Swedish ships. 
Dutchmen on the staff of Jan Jansen from Fort Nassau. 

CHORUS 

Now come to these shores the hardy Swedes : 

Here do they found their town of Christina, 

Planting the name of a Queen in the Western domain, 

Ready to fight for the right with the Hollander, 

Bringing the brawn of their race to the struggle with nature, 

Bringing their honest endeavor to build up a colony 

Strong and enduring. 
As the Chorus is chanting, the scene is changed to represent the settlement 
of Fort Christina. Meantime the tiring of cannon is heard in the direction of the 
river. The Indians run down the bank and for a little time disappear from view. 
They return laden zvith presents in token of further purchases of lands. The 
Swedes noiv march up the hank and plant posts on zvhich are the letters "C.R.S.' 
(Christina Regina Sueciae.) Torkillus preaches to the people briefly and bids 
them kneel. Ja/n Jansen and his men enter. 

Jansen.— In the name of Governor Kieft, the representative of their High 
Mightinesses of the States General of Holland, I protest against the planting of 
any foreign colony in New Netherland. This land is the property of the Dutch by 
fair purchase sealed with their blood. (Addressing Minuit) On you will fall the 
blame for all future mishaps, damages, losses, disturbances and bloodshed. 

Minuit maintains a polite hut unyielding attitude, and the Dutch withdraw in 
the direction in which they came. 

Minuit.— Under the protection of the great princess, virgin and electea 
Queen of the Swedes, Goths and Wends, I christen this land New Sweden. Under 
the protection of her gracious majesty, I name this fort Christina. 

The Swedish arms are now placed upon the palisades and a Swedish Hag is 
raised upon a pole inside the works. 



12 The Historical Pageant 

SCENE III 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

The Swedes are scarcely seated under Dutch protest when English colonists arrive 
from New Haven. Their coming is of course unwelcome to both Dutch and Swedes. 
The English claims based upon early voyages covered the entire coast. Lord De la 
Warre was thought to have come into the bay, as was Samuel Argall, a later governor 
of Virginia. Possibly they may have done so. Anyhow, the Virginians and later the 
English everywhere attached De la Warre's name to the bay and the river flowing into 
it. Casual and intermittent efforts had been made by English shipmasters to trade 
with the Indians and to found settlements, but the first important movement to this 
end was that directed by a so-called Delaware Company in which George Lamberton, 
Nathaniel Turner and others were interested persons. Like the Dutch and Swedes, 
they purchased lands from the Indians, at first on the east side of the Delaware at 
the Varkin's Kill and a little later on the river which the Dutch called the Schuylkill. 
Some twenty families of 60 persons — traders and tobacco planters from New Haven — 
were brought into the river. The Swedish settlement at Fort Christina had been 
increased in April, 1640, by the arrival of a second expedition under Peter Hollanda'er 
Ridder apd by a third in November of that year under Joost van Bogaert. Ridder on 
his side in behalf of the Swedes and Jansen still in command of Fort Nassau for the 
Dutch, expelled the English on the Schuylkill and burnt their store house and dwellings 
in 1642. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

George Lamberton 1 . r .1 t^ 1 r- 

_ >a^ents 01 the Delaware Lompany. 

Nathaniel Turner j 

Robert Coxwell, planter and seaman. 

English colonists of both sexes, and a few Indians. 

Swedes under Ridder and van Bogaert. 

Dutch under Jansen. 

The scene shows Lamherton's blockhouse on the Schuylkill. While the Eng- 
lish are at zvork on the surrounding lands, Ridder and van Bogaert appear with 
a party of Swedes from Fort Christina. 

Van Bogaert. — What is that standard there, right worthy Governor? 

Ridder. — That is an English ensign, as I'm alive. 

Van Bogaert. — And here, beside this fine stream that empties itself into the great 

river like a flagon of wine down the throat of a Dutchman. 
Ridder. — In truth. They call it in their own tongue the Schuylkill, because a 

dunderhead of a Dutch seaman passed it by without seeing its mouth. 

What say you, van Bogaert, to English neighbors? 

By this time Lamberton and other Englishmen have come out to meet the 
Swedish party, which delivers its protest in the name of their queen. Jan Jansen, 
leading a Dutch party, is seen to approach. He is surprised to find the Swedes 
on the ground but also protests. 

Lamberton. — This river is the Delaware. 

Jansen. — This is the Zuydt River. 

Ridder. — This land is New Sweden. 

The English (shouting angrily). — Indeed it is not! This is New Albion! 

Jansen and His Men. — New Netherland ! 



The Words of the Pageant 13 

The Dutch and Swedes agree together to expel the English, and drive a, 
pitiful cavalcade without resistance into the zvood. They then set fire to the 
blockhouse. But the union is not for long. Some one shouts "New Sweden!" 
Another shouts "New Netherland!" and with these words often repeated, they 
disappear from the Held in opposite directions. Some Indians zvho have been wit- 
nessing the scene from the brush now come forward in great glee at the prospect 
of coniiict between the different groups of zvhite invaders. 



SCENE IV 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

Dutch and Swedes continued their mutual claims upon the river. The Swedes 
strengthened their position in 1643 when they sent out a new governor, Johan Printz, 
a cavalry officer — a good soldier, a tactful diplomat, and with it all an ostentatious, 
a rich and a successful colonial adventurer. His wife and children and a considerable 
number of Swedish soldiers accompanied him, and he at once began a campaign for 
the extension of the sphere of Swedish influence on the Delaware. Two vessels made 
up his expedition, the Fama and the Swan, which reached the Delaware in January, 1643. 
Fort Christina was too far removed from the Delaware to be useful in the control 
of the navigation of the river, and almost immediately the construction of a new fort 
was begun at a point well south of Christina on the east side of the river. This work 
was called New Elfsborg. Printz himself pressed up the river toward the Schuylkill 
and built a fine residence called Printz Hall on Tinicum Island. Here he lived in a 
good deal of splendor, considering the restrictions of the time. The Dutch looked on 
anxiously, but there were Dutch settlers in New Sweden and some Swedes doubtless in 
New Netherland. Both were in dread of the English whose intermittent incursions 
continued. The Dutch opposition ended with protest but other days approached. In 
1645 Andries Hudde superseded Jan Jansen as commissary at Fort Nassay (Gloucester) 
beyond which no Swedish boat might go without being fired upon. In 1647 Governor 
Kieft's place at New Amsterdam was taken by a vigorous administrator, Peter Stuy- 
vesant. Disturbed by what Printz had done on the South River, particularly in lock- 
ing up the Schuylkill, the Dutch in 1648 built a fort on the north side of the Schuylkill 
near its mouth, called Fort Beversreede, because its object was to control the beaver 
trade on that river. Printz erected a block house directly in front of the new fort 
with a view to rendering it useless. His course was so insistent that it was to be 
borne no longer, and in 1651 the Dutch came around from New Amsterdam in force 
and constructed a fort on the west side of the river below Christina and north of the 
stockade at Elfsborg. They named it Fort Casimir, and they transferred to this place 
the garrison and the cannon which had defended Fort Nassau. Meantime, Printz had 
appealed again and again, but always vainly, to the Swedish government for reinforce- 
ments. Unable to be of further use, as he believed, he departed the colony after an 
administrationof ten years, in 1653, taking a number of colonists with him. He left 
New Sweden in charge of his son-in-law Johan Papegoja. After the party had gone 
and some deserters to other colonies had been subtracted from the population, it is 
estimated that only about seventy souls remained in New Sweden. The number was 
soon increased by a couple of hundred upon the arrival of a new governor, John 
Classon Rising. His policy was militant. Coming up before Fort Casimir he demanded 
its surrender, which was soon eflfected, on Trinity Sunday, 1654, for which reason its 
name was changed to Fort Trefaldighet (Fort Trinity). Stuyvesant immediately made 
arrangements to avenge the high-handed act and in 1655 returned to the Delaware 
with a fleet of sufficient size to retake Fort Casimir and advance upon Fort Christina, 
which also fell. The Dutch were now supreme upon the Delaware and remained so 
until the conquest of New Netherland by the English in 1664. 



14 The Historical Pageant 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

In Arriving Party: 

JoHAN Printz, the Swedish Governor, an immense man whom the Indians called 
"the big tub" (De Vries said that he weighed over 400 pounds — "over de 
vierhundret pondt woeg"). 

Madame Printz, the Governor's wife, who was Maria von Linnestau. 

Armegot Printz, later MadamePapegoja" 

Catherine Printz 

Christina Printz j-daughters of the Governor. 

Elsa Printz 

GuNiLLA Printz 

GuSTAF Printz, the Governor's son. 

Captain Sven Skute, first in command under Printz. 

Rev. John Campanius (Holm.) Printz's chaplain. 

Gregorius van Dyck. 

Other Swedish officers. 

In Receiving Party: 
Governor Peter Hollender Ridder. 
Lieutenant Mans Kling. 
JoGST VAN Langdonk, Commissary. 
Joran Olsson, Provost Marshal. 
Rev. Reorus Torkillus, the preacher of the colony. 
A barber surgeon, swineherds, planters, soldiers, carpenters, and Indians. 
Dutch under Sir Peter Stuyvesant and Andries Hudde, who had taken 

Jansen's place as commissary at Fort Nassau. 

CHORUS 

Minuit passes and another comes 
More powerful, more full of state, withal 
More conscious of the dignity wherewith 
His sovereign hath endowed him. 
Comes Printz the soldier to administer 
The civil law to all who dwell within 
New Sweden's bounds. 

The scene shows the arrival of Printz's party at Fort Christina early in the 
year 164^. As they are sighted the soldiers in the fort raise the Szuedish Hag and 
fire a salute. The Rev. Reorus Torkillus gathers his little Hock around him and 
they sing a psalm as they go doivn to meet their country-people. There are 
shouts of zuelcome, handshakings, a waving of handkerchiefs and banners. In- 
dians peep out from behind the trees. Printz advances with his wife and children 
around him, attended by an escort of brilliantly uniformed Swedish soldiers, a 
trumpeter and a drummer. They move up to the front of the Held. A few In- 
dians come to greet them. A party of Dutch are seen to advance also. 



The Words of the Pageant 15 



Printz. — What's he that comes yonder without the invitation of the royal gov- 
ernor of New Sweden? 

RiDDER. — They are Dutchmen, your excellency, and they may, methinks, come 
hither on no good errand. Tis well for them to see this goodly company 
of well-armed men. 

Printz. — (To Hudde, who leads) What would you here in the midst of our 
thanksgiving? Do you come as true subjects of her Royal Majesty and 
honest colonists? 

Hudde. — (Cravenly, ordering his Hag to he furled) We come to give you wel- 
come and to ask your aid against the English. 

Frintz.— (Haughtily) Then you may go. For my aid is for neither Dutch nor 
Englishmen. 

The Dutch withdraw in no good humor. Some of the Swedish colonists 
follow them and there is scuffling with their rear guard as they again tmfurl their 
Hag and retire through the wood. Printz and his party now pass off the Held 
Some of the Swedes return and meet an advancing party of Dutchmen under Sir 
Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Netherland. A general engagement, in which 
the Indians have a part, follows. 

Wailing music is heard as all the characters pass off the field. Suddenly the 
Chorus bursts into triumphal harmonies, alternated zvith the minor chords of the 
Semi-Chorus. 

CHORUS 

Farewell to the era of terrible conflict ! 

All hail to the spirit of peace that approaches ! 

I SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 
Alas ! The blood — the sacrifice. Alas ! The fear. 



ll SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

He comes the bearer of a message fair, 
Sent by the Prince of Peace. 



I SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 
See how the field lies sodden with the dead. 

II SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

From this sad sowing shall there yet arise 
A harvest of great deeds. 



l6 The Historical Pageant 



EPISODE I 



SCENE I 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

William Penn, the son of an English admiral, Sir William Penn, was born in 
1644. Much against his father's will he early embraced the religion of George Fox, 
and became a Quaker, suffering the social ostracism and the legal persecutions which 
were the portion of this sect and of adherents of other dissenting faiths under the 
Stuarts. Penn's father died in 1670. A considerable sum was due him from the crown 
in loans and arrears of pay in the naval service of the kingdom. The son had in view 
the founding of an asylum for his fellow-Quakers and to further this object at length 
agreed with Charles II and his brother the Duke of York, afterward James II, to take 
a tract of wild American land in liquidation of the debt. For obligations in the sum 
of £16,000 he was given a piece of country beyond the seas "lying north from Mary- 
land — bounded on the east by the Delaware River, on the west limited as Maryland 
and northward to extend as far as plantable," containing when its bounds were further 
defined over 40,000 square miles, an area therefore greater than Ireland and almost 
as great as that of England itself. The charter was signed at Westminster on March 
4, 1681. The king christened the country Pennsylvania, that is, "the sylvan land of 
Penn," but not without protest from the new proprietor, who became reconciled to 
the name only because the prefix "pen" signified in the Welsh language a headland. 
Pennsylvania might mean then "the high or head woodlands." He early planned "a 
capital city," a "great town." It was to be a "greene country town which will never 
be burnt and always wholesome." He resolved that it should be called Philadelphia, 
no doubt suggested by passages in Revelation which refer to Philadelphia in the 
province of Lydia in Asia Minor. The place was the seat of an early Christian con- 
gregation and the name signifies brotherly or sisterly love. Soon after he had received 
his charter, Penn sent his cousin, William Markham, to his colony to prepare it for 
settlement. A temporary capital was established at Upland (Chester) and three com- 
missioners, and later Thomas Holme, a surveyor, were despatched to plat Philadelphia, 
and the surrounding country. Penn himself arranged to follow in the autumn of 1682. 
He embarked at Deal with about one hundred companions, mostly Quakers, in the 
Welcome, a ship of 300 tons burden. It came inside the Delaware Capes, the ship's 
list much decimated by small pox, on October 24, 1682, and five days later was riding 
at anchor before Upland. Well founded tradition has it that Penn with several asso- 
ciates came up the Delaware and landed at the Blue Anchor Inn at Dock Creek, that 
is at the foot of the present Dock Street, early in November. Here he met some of the 
settlers who were already on the ground, the Swedes resident in Wicaco, and many 
Indians with whom, legend informs us, he played like a boy. He at once or a little 
later gave them presents in propitiation and friendship and concluded treaties, one of 
which tradition locates upon the ground under an elm in Shackamaxon, which is now 
Kensington. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

In Landing Party: 

William Penn. 

Captain William Markham, his cousin, who met him at Upland. 

Robert Wade, of Upland. 

Dr. Thomas Wynne, the Welsh Quaker physician, who accompanied Penn on 

the Welcome. 
Ten or twelve other passengers of the Welcome, including David Ogden, 

Nicholas Waln, Thomas Fitzwater and John Fisher. 



en (fP 

^ ? s. 



n Ui 

n 

>s 

3 n 
o 

O 




The Words of the Pageant 17 



In Receiving Party: 

Thomas Holme, the surveyor-general of Pennsylvania. 

John Bezar ^ 

Nathaniel Allen >- Commissioners. 

William Haige j 

Captain William Dare, "mine host" at the Blue Anchor Inn. 

Thomas Fairman, of Shackamaxon. 

Daniel Pegg, whose farm lay on the banks of Cohoquinoque or Pegg's Run. 

William Warner, who lived west of the Schuylkill, from Blockley, England, 

a name which he gave to the township in which he made his new home. 
John Mifflin and his son John, founders of the Mifflin family in America, 

who were early on the ground. 
John Drinker, the "first-born" and his parents. He lived to be 102 years of 

age, or until 1783. Franklin, when asked in England to what age men 

lived in America replied that he could not tell "until old Drinker died." 
Rev. Jacob Fabritius, of the Swedish Church of Wicaco, of whom Whittier 

wrote, 

"from Finland's birchen groves exiled 
Manly in thought, in simple ways a child. 
His white hair floating round his visage mild." 

Other Swedes from Wicaco, frontier adventurers from the caves on the river 
bank, sailors and Indians, 

The arena represents the meadow lands at the mouth of Dock Creek around 

the Blue Anchor Inn, overlooking the tall forest trees of Coquanoc, the Indian 
name for ivhat came to be Philadelphia. 

CHORUS 

Across the space of storied years, 

Through all the purpling mists of Time, 
A voice is wafted to our ears, 

A figure in the invigored prime 
Of noble manhood meets our gaze, 

As back our longing eyes are turned 
To find, within the vanished days. 

The heights where Freedom's beacon burned. 

And these, like benedictions, rest 

Upon our lives, a dower divine, 
A heritage benignly blest; 

Great Founder! Voice and form are thine. 
We see thee, as, like one apart — 

Quaker and soldier aptly blent — 
Of truth of soul and strength of heart 

Thou stoodst the fair embodiment. 



l8 The Historical Pageant 

We hear thee as thy message fell — 

The evangel of a holier creed — 
More lofty than the organ's swell, 

More potent than the conqueror's deed. 
Like Him who brought the heavenly dower 

Of peace on earth, good will towards men, 
Thou earnest on savage heads to shower 

A blessing, O immortal Penn ! 

Thine was the blood of truest dye 

That scoffed at Fortune's cap and bells, — 
The soul that could not stoop to lie 

Nor soil the house where honor dwells. 
Thine, only thine, the faith to keep 

The pathway that the Master trod. 
Remembering that, tho' Justice sleep. 

Her head rests in the lap of God. 

No city's sumptuous portals reared 

Shall dull our hearts, no greatness drown 
Remembrance of the love which cheered 

The toil of thy green country town. 
And round thy memory we were fain 

To weave a wreath of flowers fair, 
From every hill and every plain 

Kissed by the tides of Delaware. 

As the Chorus finishes, figures are seen landing from a pinnace, and coming 
up through the greenery. William Penn is in the lead, accompanied by William 
Markham, Robert Wade, Thomas Wynne and others. As they advance. Holme, 
the commissioners, Fairman, Warner, Pegg, Fabritius and the others go forward. 
The Indians look on at the scene. 

Penn. — (After surveying the scene, addressing Markham) Thou hast done well, 

Cousin Markham. Thou hast chosen a right excellent site for our greene 

country town as I bade thee do. 
Holme. — Beyond there where thou seest that great tree is the High Street and 

going out its length thou wilt come to the Broad Street. 
Penn. — All is well. 'Tis fair and seemly ground for my capital city. You all 

have served me to my good satisfaction. Ah {in surprise and delight as 

he sees John Drinker, a babe in the arms of its mother) a child here in 

my wilderness? 
Markham. — In sooth. Cousin William. Born on this ground in yonder cabin 

rising two years since. 



The Words of the Pageant 19 



Penn.— May God give thee his blessing, my young Pennsylvanian. Love thy 
mother who will breed thee up dutiful to the Lord. 

(Fabritius and some Swedes appear, their hats in their hands.) 

Penn.— (To Fabritius) Thou mayest put on thy hat good man. I am come to 
be one of you, not to rule as a lord over you. To the natives, too, whose 
dark skins hide good hearts, I come as a friend. What canst thou and I 
do here, Thomas (addressing Dr. Thomas Wynne, his companion on the 
Welcome) to show forth our good disposition toward these people? 

Wynne.— I wot not, William. They seem scarce in our image. Mayhap God 
tried us sore of pestilence on our way hither but to prove our souls and 
fit us better for the making of thy holy experiment. 

Penn.— Thomas, thou'rt as good a preacher as thou'rt a skilful leech. 

Penn mingles with the Indians, sitting down on the ground beside them, 
leaping with them in play, aiming an arrow from one of their bows, giving them 
a sash which he takes from his person and sending for gifts, which are brought 
in chests. They are soon Ulled with delight. The Indians go out and bring in 
skins and corn. They call Penn "Onas." An interpreter appears. 

Penn.— (To interpreter.) Tell them that I know no religion that destroys cour- 
tesy, civility and kindness. I have come to put an end to enmity and dis- 
pute. My policy shall be openness and love and peace. 

The Indians hear what is translated and communicated to them in their own 
tongue with marks of approval. 

The Interpreter.— They say, ''We will live in peace with Onas and his children 
so long as the sun and moon endure." 

The Indians with great noise "say Amen in their way." 

Penn.— (To those grouped around him.) My dear friends, God hath given me 
this new land in the face of the world. He will bless and make it the seed 
of a nation. 
They move off, the Indians in one direction, the English and Swedes in 

another. 



20 The Historical Paseant 



SCENE II 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

William Penn returned to England in 1684 and he was not destined to revisit his 
colony on the Delaware for fifteen years. Meanwhile much had happened to him 
personally as well as to England. The pleasure-loving Charles II had died to make 
way for his brother the Duke of York, who ascended the throne as James II. His 
infamies, which Macaulay so graphically describes, led to the Revolution of 1688 and 
the accession of William and Mary. Mary died in 1694 and William III would rule 
alone until his death jn 1702, to be followed by her sister Anne. Penn's wife, the 
beloved Gulielma Maria Springett, died in 1694 and his favorite son Springett at the 
threshold of young manhood followed his mother to the grave in 1696. In that year 
Penn contracted a second marriage, his choice this time falling upon the daughter of 
a Quaker merchant in Bristol, Hannah Callowhill. In 1699 when he again set out 
for his colony she and his daughter by his first wife, Letitia or "Tishe," as he 
affectionately called her, accompanied him. He came before Philadelphia in his ship 
the "Canterbury" on December 3, 1699, and the "greene country towne" and his estate 
on the pelaware, Pennsbury, which had been fitted up for him in his absence, were 
to be his home for nearly two years. His departure was taken in November, 1701, 
and he was destined never to return to his province. In the more than fifteen years 
which had elapsed since his first visit many of the supports and pillars of the colony 
had been removed by death. Others had come forward to take their places. Philadelphia 
may have had a population of 3000 or 4000. It boasted of shops and inns, a brew- 
house or two, brick-kilns, rope-walks and a few other industries. Some commodious 
homes had been erected near the river side, but the houses for the most part were 
wooden cabins. The Quaker element predominated but a group of men faithful to the 
Church of England had gathered here and made themselves quite hostile to Penn and 
the Friends. The Welsh, some of whom had come with Penn in the Welcome, increased 
in number. Many families from Wales had settled in the so-called "Welsh Tract" 
beyond the Schu3dkill, in Merion, Radnor and Haverford, and pressed on into Chester 
county. German sectarians had begun to arrive. The first of these to enter the colony 
reached Pennsylvania under Pastorius while Penn was here during his first visit, and 
settled in Germantown: this was the beginning of a strong tide of immigration from 
Germany, which reached proportions alarming to the English element in the first half 
of the eighteenth century. A number of odd German mystics under John Kelpius had 
established a community on the "Ridge" in the dark fastnesses of the Wissahickon. The 
Scotch Irish who were destined to come in such numbers at a somewhat later date to 
people the frontier counties were already seen in the city. In short, Pennsylvania had 
come to fulfill its founder's purpose: it was a haven for the oppressed in conscience of 
many national roots. Before his departure in 1701 Penn gave the colony a new charter 
of privileges and the city a charter for its government, both of which continued in 
lorce until the Revolutionarv War. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 

William Penn. 

Hannah Callowhill Penn, his wife. 

Letitia Penn, his daughter. 

Andrew Hamilton, the new Governor. 

William Markham, now Colonel Markham, several times Deputy Governor. 

James Logan, a young Irishman who came with Penn on his second visit and 

remained here to represent the Penn interests faithfully until his death. 
Edward Shippen, Councillor and Mayor. 
Samuel Carpenter, Councillor and merchant. ("The Stephen Girard of his 

day in wealth r^nd the William Sansom in the improvements he suggested 

and the edifices which he built." — Watson) 
Thomas Story, Councillor and City Recorder. 



•Aldermen. 



The Words of the Pageant 21 

Phineas Pemberton -^ 

Griffith Owen (-other Councillors. 

Caleb Pusey J 

JosiAH Carpenter 

Griffith Jones 

Anthony Morris 

Thomas Masters 

Isaac Norris. 

Jonathan Dickinson. 

William Trent, who founded Trenton. 

Thomas Wharton. 

William Hudson. 

Toby Leech. 

Robert Assheton. 

Joseph Growden. 

Humphrey Morrey. o 

Nicholas Waln. 

Francis Rawle. 

John Cadwalader. 

Thomas Fairman, and other citizens. 

Robert Quarry, John Moore, King's agents, and other Church of England men 

hostile to Penn. 
A group of EngHsh colonists of both sexes. 
A group of Welsh colonists. 
A group of Swedes from Wicaco, Passyunk and Moyamensing, headed by their 

priests. 
A group of Germans headed by Francis Daniel Pastorius and William Rit- 

tenhouse. 
Mystics from the "Ridge." 
Indians. 

The scene is the wide and grassy space used as a market place at Second and 
High Streets. 

CHORUS 

The law of love doth work its perfect will : 
The savage breast beneath its touch grows still. 
And to the brawls of Hollander and Swede 
The "Quaker King's" mild order shall succeed, 
And peace and justice shall the measure fill. 
Translating promise to immortal deed 
And founding empire in simplicity. 



2.2 The Historical Pageant 

The Scene opens with the arrival of the Welsh to Welsh music. These are 
followed by the Germafis and the Swedish people in groups. Indians 
enter and join the crowd. The English citizenry then make their appearance on 
the scene, and following them come Penn, his wife and daughter, Logan and a 
retinue, all mounted. Their "creatures" are hitched to trees or held by boys and 
young men on the outskirts of the crowd which has gathered to witness the pixb- 
lication of the charter of privileges of the colony and the city charter. 

Penn. — (To Logan) I have had the wish to see the great charter of the prov- 
ince published ere I go home. I bid thee draw the people around us, James. 

(The groups draw near and mingle.) 

Penn. — (To the multitude) My wish that Pennsylvania should be an asylum 
for the stricken by Gk)d's blessing is being fulfilled. I hereby grant you, my 
people, a new frame of government which I am hopeful will be for your 
well-being. Some religions persecute, mine forgives. Whoever is in the 
wrong, those who use force in religion can never be in the right. There- 
fore, I, William Penn, proprietary and governor of the province of Penn- 
sylvania, by virtue of the King's letters patent, again confirm my grant to 
you all of freedom of conscience as to your religious profession and wor- 
ship under one Almighty God — the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the 
world. 

The councillors draw near and receive the parchment. 

Penn (continuing). — To you who are of my dear Philadelphia, I grant further 
this charter for your government. Your town and borough shall be a city. 
Virgin settlement of this province, named before thou wert born, what love, 
what care, what service and what travail has there been to bring thee forth 
and preserve thee from such as would abuse and defile thee. O ! that thou 
mayst be kept from the evil that would overwhelm thee; that, faithful to 
the God of thy mercies in the life of righteousness, thou mayst be preserved 
to the end. 

The Mayor and Aldermen receive the scroll representing the City Charter. 



CHORUS 

Justice and Mercy and Love: Love of each man for his brother, 
Philos-Adelphos, fit motto of them who establish 
Here on the banks of the swift-flowing rivers 
Deep the foundations of Penn's noble city. 



The Words of the Pageant 23 



I SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

Dim in the mystical past, in far Lydia, 
Men reared the walls of a wonderful city ; 
Weaving their motto of Philos-Adelphos into their covenant, — 
Naming the work of their hands Philadelphia, — 
Philos-Adelphos, — brotherly love. 



II SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

Philos-Adelphos, — a phrase of the ages, — 
Now in this western dominion renascent. 
Here on the banks of the Delaware born again 
Into a grandeur which through coming centuries 
Swiftly shall dwarf all the dreams of fair Lydia — 
Fair Philadelphia — city of Penn. 



CHORUS 

Behold a city where a forest stood, 
Behold the reign of Equity begun, 
Farewell the Founder of a Mighty state 
And hail an empire based on Equity. 



The Historical Pageant 



EPISODE II 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

The differences between England and her American Colonies reached an angry 
stage in 1765 when the Stamp Act was passed, and she asserted the right of taxing 
them for her support. Benjamin Franklin had gone abroad to represent the province 
in London in 1757. He returned in 1762 but went out again as the colonial agent in 
1764 to remain away for ten years. He was appealed to on the subject of the Stamp 
Act, but his protests were unavailing. The Philadelphians when the stamp paper 
arrived refused to permit it to be landed or sold. The merchants signed the "Non 
Importation Resolutions," pledging themselves not to trade with Great Britain until 
the offensive law should be repealed, as it was in the following year. In 1767, however, 
the ministry reasserted its right to make levies upon the colonists in a law relating 
to paper, glass, tea, etc. The duties on these articles with the exception of tea, were 
abolished in 1770 but without mollifying the public resentment. The people resolved 
to use no tea. At length in 1773 the East India Company was authorized to send 
a number of cargoes to America. Town meetings were held to declare that they should 
not be received. It was announced in October that the Polly, Captain Ayres, would 
bring the tea to Philadelphia. It was principally consigned to two solid Quaker firms, 
Thomas and Isaac Wharton and James and Drinker, who were asked to resign their 
offices as the stamp master had been, and promptly did so. Captain Ayres was 
threatened with tar and feathers by a mob. In the midst of the excitement an express 
arrived to announce that in Boston the tea had been thrown into the harbor. At last 
the "Polly" entered the Delaware. A committee went out to meet the Captain and 
he was brought up to the city. He was told that he must send his ship down the 
river on the next tide. He himself might remain in town until the next day, but only 
for the purpose of replenishing his stores for the return voyage to England. When 
he had learned of the temper of the people he complied with the best grace he could 
command, and quiet returned for a little while to the city and the colony. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 
Thomas Willing 
John Dickinson 
Dr. Benjamin Rush 
Robert Morris 
William Bradford 
Thomas Mifflin 

Charles Thomson V Citizens. 

Provost William Smith 
George Clymer 
Joseph Reed 
Samuel Powel 
John Nixon 
Thomas Fitzsimmons 
Elizabeth Drinker. 
Lydia Darragh. 
Mary Pemberton. 
Martha James. 
Margaret Morris. 
Rebecca James, a young girl. 
Thomas Wharton. 



The Words of the Pageant 25 

Abel James. 

Deborah Franklin. 

Sarah Franklin Bache. 

Captain Ayres, of the tea ship Polly. 

Pickle Herring, a clown, and other Fair Day characters. 

A crowd numbering about 300 persons. 

CHORUS 
Behold ! the sun is mounting to his noon : 

The city grows apace; 
Yet Peace begins to pale and all too soon 

Shall veil her radiant face, — 
Shall veil for weary years her radiant face. 

The arena represents the market place at the time of the Autumn Fair — 
October, 177s- ^ pack train and some cows zvith hells are seen. In the fore- 
ground Fair-day stalls and a mob which comes in in parties from both sides of^ 
the Held, and in which may be seen types of citizens both rich and poor: — beaux 
and belles on horseback ; German country girls on horses zvith panniers; Indians 
dancing and capering; paupers, Fair-day characters, a cloivn (Pickle Herring, 
well knozmi at the time in the colonies), gingerbread men, piemen, Punch-and- 
Judy showmen, some British soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment (i8th) from 
the Barracks, Quakers, etc. 

Charles Thomson. — (To Bradford) It seems that our Dr. Franklin is making 
but little progress in regard to our weighty matters in England. 

Bradford. — From the news I had but now at the Coffee House, I well believe that 
his success hath been but middling. 

Rush. — Thou meanest about the detestable tea scheme. The drink made from 
that East Indian weed is assuredly now not often seen in this part of the 
King's dominion. I commend to my patients, mother of thyme with a little 
hyssop or some peppermint and yarrow. They brew as well. 

"Tea, how I tremble at the baneful name. 
Like Lethe fatal to the love of fame." 

Morris (coming up). — The affair is no subject for jest and it's like to come to a 
bitter end. I hear the ministry hath allowed the East India Company to 
despatch several cargoes of tea hither on which the tax is to be paid. 

Thomson. — That it will not be if my ears make correct report. 

Mifflin. — What hast thou heard? 

Thomson. — That the tea is to be sent back to England whence it comes. It shall 
get no landing here. The Whartons and Abel James have promised not 
to receive it. The Delaware pilots are threatened if they bring up the ship. 

Dickinson. — I trust all may be done without violence. 

Willing. — Yet must we keep our dignity, come what may. The tea may follow 
the stamps, say I. Taxation without representation I hold in abhorrence. 



26 The Historical Pageant 

Morris. — It is not to be thought on. The resolutions passed at the meeting in 
the State House yard were definite enough. The action of the ministry is 
a violent attack upon the liberties of America. 
Pickle Herring (with a shrub labeled "Tec^' which he sets down and 
addresses) . — Thou accursed Qiina herb ! 

"How might we blush if our sires could see 
Our rights invaded by this shrub Bohea." 
Bohea tea ! see ! 
A party of sailors come rollicking along, one or two seeming slightly tipsy. 
They shout "We never drink tea," and sing as they pass on: 
"Here's to the wind that blows 
To the ship that goes, 
And to the lass that loves a sailor." 

A citizen in a chaise draws near and calls for more toasts. He suggests one: 

"May Great Britain always be just and America always be free." (Loud 
Hussas.) 

A Sailor (tipsy). — Liberty to mankind! (All laugh) 

A Citizen. — Here's to Paoli! May the glorious spirit of Corsica animate 
America to the latest posterity. 

Abel James, one of the Quaker merchants to whom the tea is consigned, 
becomes the center of interest in the crowd. He promises that he will not receive 
his part of the cargo and offers his little daughter standing on a hogshead as a 
pledge of his good faith. There is a commotion in the crowd at right, as an 
Express comes in breathless. 

Express. — Hear ye all ! Captain Ayres in the teaship Polly hath just cast anchor 
in the Delaware ! 

Great excitement among the people. 

A Voice. — We'll tar and feather him and funnel his rotten tea down his throat. 
Many Voices. — Ay, ay ! And the quicker the better. 
Voices. — Tar and feathers ! Tar and feathers ! 

A kettle of tar and an old feather bed are brought on the scene, and a pro- 
cession is formed marching to the music of a fife. 

Dickinson, (coming up hastily) Peace! Peace! Let us act orderly that our 

cause be not jeopardized. I pray ye use no violence. 
Voices. — Here he comes ! Here he comes ! Let's teach the villain a lesson ! 
Dickinson. — Peace! Peace! No violence. 

Captain Ayres conies in through a lane of people. Some boys hustle him 
but show no further indignity, being restrained by Dickinson, Willing, MiMin 
and other leading citizens. 

A committee of four zmit upon him and inform him concerning the temper 
of the people, whereupon he agrees to depart, at tvhich there is much huzzaing. 



The Words of the Pageant 27 



A mob which is formed carrying a large sign rudely painted, "No taxation 
without representation," sings: 

"Captain once more hoist your streamers 
Spread your sails and plow the wave ! 
Tell your masters they were dreamers, 
When they thought to cheat the Brave." 

The crowd again surges out, the British troops being someivhat hustled but 
preserving good temper. The roistering sailors pass across the arena singing: 

"Here's to the wind that blows, 
To the ship that goes. 
And to the lass that loves a sailor." 

As the crowd moves from the field, the Chorus sings a song of the time in 
Philadelphia, written by John Dickinson and sung to the tune of "Hearts of Oak." 

"Our worthy forefathers, let's give them a cheer. 
To climates unknown did courageously steer. 
Through oceans and deserts for freedom they came 
And dying bequeathed us their freedom and fame. 

Chorus 

"In freedom we're born 

And in freedom we'll live. 
Our purses are ready. 
Steady, friends, steady ! 
Not as slaves but as freemen 
Our money we'll give. 

"The tree their own hands had to Liberty reared 

They lived to behold growing strong and rever'd; 
With transport they cried, 'Now our wishes we gain, 
For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain.' 
Chorus 

"In freedom, etc. 

"Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all. 
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall. 
In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed. 
For Heaven approves of each generous deed. 
Chorus 

"In freedom, etc. 

"All ages shall speak with amaze and applause 

Of the courage we'll show in support of our laws. 
To die we can bear, but to serve we disdain. 

For shame is to freemen more dreadful than pain." 
Chorus 

"In freedom, etc. 



28 The Historical Pageant 



EPISODE III 

SCENE I 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

Events moved on apace. As a punishment for the destruction of the tea in the 
harbor at Boston, the port was declared to be closed to commerce. Warships were 
at hand to enforce the law. This act aroused the resentment of the other colonies. 
A Continental Congress convened in Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia in September, 
1774. On April 24 an express arrived announcing the Battle of Lexington. The 
people were aflame. Franklin came home from England on May 6, 1775, and a few 
days later the delegates to the second Continental Congress reached the city. The 
Virginians and other Southern delegates, George Washington among them, came on 
May 9, and the Eastern delegates, led by John Hancock, John Adams and Samuel 
Adams of the province of Massachusetts Bay, on whose soil the first blood had been 
shed, were welcomed on the following day. May 10. Companies of militiamen, or 
Associators as they were called, marched out to receive both cavalcades and escort them 
into the city. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Southern Delegates: 
Colonel George Washington 
Patrick Henry 
Richard Henry Lee 

Edmund Pendleton > of Virginia. 

Benjamin Harrison 
Richard Bland 
Peyton Randolph 
Some Maryland and Carolina Delegates. 

Caesar Rodney "1 

George Read > of Delaware. 

Thomas McKean J 

Eastern Delegates: 
John Hancock 
Thomas Gushing 
John Adams 
Samuel Adams 
Robert Treat Paine 



> of Massachusetts Bay. 



Other delegates from New England, New York and New Jersey. 

Benjamin Franklin. 

Thomas Paine. 

Robert Morris. 

James Wilson. 

George Clymer, 

Betsy Ross, 



The Words of the Pageant 29 

Lydia Darragh. 

John Dickinson -^ 

Daniel Roberdeau wMilitia Colonels. 

John Cadwalader J 

Irregular bodies of Associators, with music. 

A mob of citizens. 

The arena represents the commons zuest of the town in May, IJIS- ^ great 
crozvd of excited people. Recruiting sergeants at tables enrolling volunteers. 
John Dickinson, Daniel Roberdeau and John Cadwalader, as Colonels, organising 
their several commands. Benjamin Franklin enters, escorted by Thomas Paine, 
Robert Morris, James Wilson, George Ciymer and other Pennsylvanians. Tivo 
cavalcades appear, escorting the delegates. The first comes from the South, the 
second from New England. 

Enter with the SoutJicrn group, George Washington, Peyton Randolph, 
Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and others. They are escorted by the new 
city militia officers, by citizens on Jwrscback and by bodies of Associators. 

Enter with the Nezv England group, John Hancock and Samuel Adams 
in a phaeton and pair, John Adams and Thomas Gushing in a one-horse chaise, 
and others similarly escorted with music, moving at a "slozv and solemn pace." 

All proceed to the front of the field, while bells are heard chiming from' 
among the trees. The scene is animated plainly evidencing the excite- 
ment of a coming struggle. Marked attention is shown the delegates from Mas- 
sachusetts, the opening ground of the war. They are loudly acclaimed. Ther&, 
is an impressive meeting between the New Englanders and Franklin, who, when 
the cavalcade reaches him, becomes the centre of attention. 

Franklin. — {Solemnly.) Mars seems to have established his empire among us. 
John Adams. — The time has come for us to defend with arms our property, our 

liberty and our lives. 
Voices. — Colonel Washington ! Washington ! Washington ! Let Washington 

lead our troops to avenge the blood of Lexington. 

Washington acknowledges the salutation by bozving in a dignified way. 
Franklin now comes forward and is again the centre of the scene, zvhile the Chorus 
sings 

CHORUS 

To-day we look upon the studious men 
Who from the Junto grew to stature tall 

In philosophic thought, and once again 
Across the years the name of Franklin call. 



30 The Historical Pageant 



I SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

Back to the yesterdays we turn; once more 

Turn from sweet Peace, with smiling summer eyes, 
To meet the darkling frown of horrid War, 
Hateful amid his scarlet panoplies. 
Thro' the dim twilight comes the roll 

Of Braddock's drums, while, faint and clear, 

The fife's high treble falls ; 
And marching feet press towards the goal, 

The inhospitable frontier. 

And lo! we find commanding here 

Him who to duty's calls 
Is never deaf, — the valiant soul, 

The heart which naught appals, — 

The soldier and the seer. 



II SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

While freemen fight that still they may be free. 

Hurling defiance back to arrogance. 
The brain of Franklin still shall find the key 

To unlock the heart of France. 
He with persuasive voice and facile pen 

Shall plead the virtues of his country's cause, 

Winning with eloquence. 
Battles more fraught with consequence than when 
Sword meets with bloody sword and patriots pause 

For swift attack or obstinate defense. 

CHORUS 

Back to the city of their love, where Penn, 

Proclaiming full release 
From fetters of the conscience, had begun 
Man's noblest struggle for the rights of men, — 
Resplendent in the light of great deeds done, — 
Shall come the fairest fruitage of sweet Peace, — 
Franklin the seer, — the patriot Washington. 

As the Chorus concludes, the crowd passes off and dears the field which 
is prepared for the next scene. 



The Words of the Pageant 31 

SCENE II 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

The Congress was in session constantly in the last months of 1775 and in 1776. 
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, in obedience to instructions from 
his colony, offered the following resolutions: 

"Resolved that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and inde- 
pendent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown and 
that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought 
to be totally dissolved." 

On June 11, a committee of five members, consisting of Thomas Jefferson of Vir- 
ginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger 
Sherman of Connecticut and R. R. Livingston of New York, was appointed to frame 
a Declaration of Independence. On July 2, Lee's motion was adopted, and that day, 
it was believed by John Adams, would be "celebrated by succeeding generations as 
the great anniversary festival commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn 
acts of devotion to God Almighty from one end of the continent to the other, from 
this time forward forevermore." The language of the Declaration was now discussed 
by the Congress. It was approved on July 4, which soon became the day for popular 
anniversary observances. On July 8 the Declaration was read by John Nixon from 
the observatory in the State House Yard, and the bells were rung. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 
John Nixon. 
Thomas Jefferson 
Benjamin Franklin 
John Adams 
Roger Sherman 
R. R. Livingston 

Other members of the Cangress. 

Isaac Hunt (father of Leigh Hunt). 

Betsy Ross. 

Lydia Darragh. 

Sarah Franklin Bache. 

Deborah Norris. 

Sally Wister. 

Polly Fishbourne. 

A mob of citizens. 

Companies of Associators. 

The scene shows the State House Yard crowded with Colonials. Isaac Hunt 
(a Tory) paraded in a cart to the music of "The Rogue's March," the crowd hoot- 
ing. Hunt is made to stand up in the cart and express his "extreme pain and regret 
at having vilified Congress," amid mingled jeers and cheers. 

A hand of Associators enter with the King's arms, which they have torn 
down in the State House and proceed to hum. 

From the platform, John Nixon, surrounded by memhers of Congress, is read- 
ing the Declaration of Independence, the midtitude shouting applause. The 



Committee on the Declaration. 



32 The Historical Pageant 



heads of three young Quaker misses, Debby Norris, Sally Wister and Polly Fish- 
bourne, rise above the wall on Fifth Street surrounding the gardens of the Norris 
mansion. At the conclusion of the reading the State House bell is heard pealing 
forth "Liberty through all the land — unto all the inhabitants thereof." Christ 
Church and other bells join in the celebration. 

The Philadelphia Associators composed of three battalions of infantry, under 
Colonels Dickinson, Roberdeau and Cadwalader, march in and are drawn up on 
dress parade. During their evolutions the Chorus sings: 



THE PENNSYLVANIA MARCH 
(Tune: "I winna marry any mon but Sandy o'er the lea.") 

"We are the troops that ne'er will stoop 

To wretched slavery, 
Nor shall our seed by our base deed 

Despised vassals be. 
Freedom we will bequeath to them 

Or we will bravely die. 
Our greatest foe e'er long shall know 

How much did Sandwich* lie. 

"What! Can those British tyrants think 

Our fathers crossed the main 
And savage foes and dangers met 

To be enslaved again? 
If so they are mistaken much 

For we will rather die, 
And since they have become our foes 

Their forces we defy." 

There is great enthusiasm. "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flozt/' 
is sung by the Chorus supported by the band, the music being punctuated by the 
firing of cannon and the pealing of bells. 

*Lord Sandwich, who had said that the Americans would not fight. 



The Words of the Pageant 33 



EPISODE IV 



SCENE I 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

The advance of the British army upon Philadelphia, the capital of the Colonies, 
was feared late in 1776. Congress, the Pennsylvania Assembly and many families fled 
for safety. The operations of Washington's army around Trenton at Christmas time 
led to a feeling of reassurance in the city and those who had departed gradually returned. 
The alarm was renewed in August, 1777, when it was announced that a large fleet had 
sailed from New York. Its destination was probably the Delaware River. Washington 
moved his positions restlessly and at last when it was clear that the ships had entered 
the Chesapeake instead of the Delaware and that the troops would be landed on the 
banks of the Elk River, he started on his way south. The ragged regiments passed 
through Philadelphia with twigs of green in their caps on August 24th, making the 
best appearance possible in order to create a favorable impression on the minds of the 
inhabitants. They met the British army which was commanded by Sir ^yilliam 
Howe, on the field of Brandywine in Chester County, near the Maryland line, on 
September 11, and were defeated. The noise of the guns was distinctly heard in 
Philadelphia and the people again sought safety in flight. Howe moved forward and 
on September 22d, he established his camp in Germantown. On September 26th, 
Cornwallis with a considerable body of troops came down the Second street road 
and entered Philadelphia. Washington meanwhile planned another battle. He had 
been manoeuvering at the Schuylkill fords. On October 4th, his scouts drove in the 
British outposts at Mount Airy, and Wayne, Sullivan and Conway pressed the troops 
into the village. They were soon in collision with the Tenth and Fortieth Regiments 
and the Second Battalion of Light Infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Musgrave of the 
Fortieth Regiment in his flight placed a body of his men in "Cliveden," the fine stone 
country house of Chief Justice Chew, and this became a critical point in the ensuing 
battle. A considerable part of the American forces passed on to engage other bodies 
of the British. More might well have done so. The fogs of October, the smoke of 
the guns and the misunderstanding among the American generals led at length to a 
precipitous retreat. Musgrave held his position against a siege of cannon, sharp 
musketry firing and incendiaries until he was relieved near the end of the engagement 
by General Grey. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 
Americams: 

General Washington. 

General Wayne. 

Generals Sullivan, Armstrong, Conway, Knox, Maxwell, Greene, Reed, 

Smallwood, Muhlenberg, and others. 
Captain Allan McLane, with a party of his riders. 
Three or four hundred American troops of different commands. 

British: 

Sir William Howe. 
General Knyphausen ("Old Knyp"). 
Colonel Musgrave, of the 40th Regiment. 
Generals Grey, Agnew, Grant, Mathew, etc. 

The Fortieth Regiment, the Second Light Infantry and other bodies of British 
soldiery. 



34 The Historical Pageant 



CHORUS 

We stand to-day upon the sacred soil 

Trodden of patriot feet when war's alarms 

Flung their rude summons on the ears of toil 
From far across the brown and sunlit farms. 

I SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

Here stood pale Kelpius, fleeing from the stress 

Of this fair world's alluring comradeships, 
Where the sad Woman-in-the- Wilderness 

Waited her radiant Lord's apocalypse. 
Pastorius the learned and austere, 

Bringing his gift of tongues to quell each strife, 
And with his words of comfort oft to cheer 

The grim privations of a pilgrim's life. 
So from the pages of the storied past 

We glean the lesson of work well begun. 
And as our lives a longer shadow cast, 

Learn deeper reverence for the men who won 
From hard inhospitable rocks the means 

To rear the hearthstones of our stalwart sires 
And plant a standard mid Earth's shifting scenes 

And Life's elusive and inconstant fires. 

n SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

And there shall come an echo on the air 

Of Musgrave's volleys and the iron roar 
Of Conway's guns pounding their answer there 

On window barred and barricaded door. 
And soon the roadways of the startled town, 

Shall gleam with bayonets glinting in the sun, 
And we shall hear the horsemen charging down, 

Obedient to the word of Washington. 

CHORUS 

And tho' the mists of gathering years may blot 
Each scutcheon and each hallowed shrine profane. 

No noble word is ever quite forgot 

Nor any high ideal wrought out in vain. 

The Scene is set with the Chew House at one side of the Held. Statues are 
disposed upon the lawti. A British Light Infantry sentry is seen in middle dis- 
tance, walking back and forth. From the left, a relief party approaches the sen- 
tinel, who halts. All retire at "double time." In middle distance now are seen 



The Words of the Pageant . 35 

Washington, Wayne a^d other American Generals advancing. They ride up and 
dismount for a conference near the front of the Held. They mount again and 
retire rapidly to rear and out of sight. 

A body of British Light Infantry now appear anid form in "open order." 
Wayne comes forward with his men. The battle begins by sounding the Light 
Infantry drum. Wayne keeps advancing and driving the British before him, his 
men shouting, "Have at the bloodhounds. Remember Paoli." The Fortieth, 
Regiment is brought forward to support the Light Infantry. General Howe rides 
up and shouts, "For shame Light Infantry. I never saw you retreat before." But 
the retreat continues. The Fortieth Regiment takes refuge in the Chew House. 
They close the shutters of the house on the first story and barricade the doors. 
The red coats are seen at the upper-story windows. Some appear upon the roof. 
The Americans stop to survey the improvised fort and send out Lieutenant^ 
Colonel Smith zvith a white flag, summoning the "garrison" to surrender. Smith 
is shot down and a general engagement is begun betzveen the British at the win- 
dows and the Americans disposed upon the lawn. A log is brought up and an 
effort is made to batter in the front door. The Chevalier Duplessis and John 
Laurens go for straw and attempt to set lire to the house. They are beaten back 
and return to the American lines. Some small guns are brought up for a bom- 
bardment. 

The Fortieth Regiment in the house is relieved at length by the men from the 
Seventeenth and Forty-fourth Regiments under General Grey. As the Americans 
retire, General Agnezv is seen to fall from his horse. He is caught by some sol- 
diers standing near and placed in a litter. The Sixteenth Light Dragoons appear 
and follow the British Foot off the Held. 

SCENE II 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

It is credibly asserted that Sir William Howe, thinking that the battle of German- 
town would result in his defeat, had planned a retreat to Chester. The retirement of 
the Americans from this ill-managed engagement to camps at a greater distance from 
the city (at a little later date to Valley Forge), led to Howe's resolution to remain 
in Philadelphia. The city offered him a pleasant winter rendezvous. He and his 
officers quartered themselves in the best Quaker homes. The public buildings became 
hospitals, barrack rooms and stables. The entire city was soon converted into an 
armed camp for upwards of thirty British regiments, and large auxiliary bodies of 
German and Loyalist troops. Many Tories accompanied the army to occupy the 
houses and shops of the Whigs who had sought safer retreats. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

The troops used ir* the first scene, together with the Forty-second Highlanders 
("Black Watch"), Hessian Jaegers, Queen's Rangers, etc. 

The Forty-second Highlanders are seen marching and countermarching, to 
the music of the pipers. The Queens Rangers, a Tory Regiment under command 
of Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, and other bodies of British soldiery appear and go 
dozvn to the river to receive Sir William Howe and Lord Howe, who are assembled 
for the next scene. 



36 The Historical Pageant 

SCENE III 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

While Washington and his troops suffered the gravest hardships among the hills 
at Valley Forge, Howe and his army were comfortably ensconced in Philadelphia. 
The river was opened to the British fleet, and Admiral Lord Howe (Sir William 
Howe's brother) came up with large quantities of supplies. The young officers found 
a welcome in the city's Tory homes, and the winter was marked by much social gayety. 
"Assemblies, concerts, clubs and the like," wrote a captain of the Hessian Jaegers, 
"make us forget there is any war save that it is a capital joke." Sir William Howe's 
indolence at length led to his recall, and just prior to the taking of the resolve to 
evacuate the city he was superseded in command by Sir Henry Clinton. His brother 
officers, led by the ill-fated Andre, in token of their esteem, arranged, before his 
departure, a noteworthy festival which they called the Mischianza, or more properly 
the Meschianza (an Italian word meaning a medley), for May 18, 1778. It included 
a regatta on the Delaware River participated in by "swarms" of decorated boats, a 
tournament at "Walnut Grove," some distance south of the city, the home of Joseph 
Wharton, a wealthy Quaker merchant, and in the evening, a ball, a supper, and an 
elaborate exhibition of fireworks. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Sir William Howe. 

Lord Howe. 

Sir Henry Clinton, 

Lord Cornwallis. 

General Knyphausen. 

Other British officers, grenadiers, dragoons, chasseurs, etc. 

Sir John Wrottlesley, Colonel O'Hara, Major Gardiner and Captain J. F. 

Montresor, managers of the Meschianza. 
Major Gwynne, Marshal of the Field. 

Knights of the Blended Rose (White Knights): 

Lord Cathcart of the 17th Dragoons, chief knight, with two esquires and 

slaves. 
Hon. Captain Cathcart of the 23rd Regiment, first knight, with one esquire. 
Lieutenant Bygrove of the i6th Dragoons, second knight, with one esquire. 
Captain John Andre of the 26th Regiment, third knight, with one esquire. 
Captain Horneck of the Guards, fourth knight, with one esquire. 
Captain Matthews of the 41st Regiment, fifth knight, with one esquire. 
Lieutenant Sloper of the 17th Dragoons, sixth knight, with one esquire. 
Herald. 
Trumpeters. 

Knights of the Burning Mountain (Black Knights) : 

Captain Watson of the Guards, chief knight, with two esquires and slaves. 
Lieutenant Underwood of the loth Regiment, first knight, with one esquire. 
Lieutenant Winyard of the 64th Regiment, second knight, with one esquire. 
Lieutenant Delaval of the 4th Regiment, third knight, with one esquire. 
M. MoNTLUissANT of the Hessian Chasseurs, fourth knight, with one esquire. 



The Words of the Pageant 37 



Lieutenant Hobart, oi the 7th Reg-iment, fifth knight with one esquire. 

Brigade-Major Tarleton, sixth knight, with one esquire. 

Herald. 

Trumpeters. 

Ladies of the Blended Rose: 

Miss Auchmuty, chief knight's lady. 
Miss Nancy White, first lady. 
Miss Jane Craig, second lady. 
Miss Peggy Chew, third lady. 
Miss Nancy Redman, fourth lady. 
Miss William in a Bond, fifth lady. 
Miss Mary Shippen, sixth lady. 

Ladies of the Burning Mowntain: 

Miss Rebecca Franks, chief knight's lady. 

Miss Sarah Shippen, first lady. 

Miss Peggy Shippen (afterwards Mrs. Benedict Arnold) second lady. 

Miss Becky Bond, third lady. 

Miss Becky Redman, fourth lady. 

Miss Sophia Chew, fifth lady. 

Miss Williamina Smith, sixth lady. 

A company of spectators drawn from the Tory families of the city. 

The scene shozvs the gardens surrounding the Wharton House, "Walnut 
Grove." Tzvo arches lead to the river, one a naval arch dedicated to Lord Howe, 
the other a military arch dedicated to Sir William. Hozve. Between them is the 
tilting ground, lined with troops. At each side a pavilion for the tzvo parties 
of ladies in zvhose honor the tournament is given and for the officers and other 
spectators. The two parties of ladies enter from the house. The General and 
the Admiral zvith their retinues, headed by music, come up from the river through 
a double Me of Grenadiers, supported by horse, under the standards of the 
several regiments, and take their places. They are greeted zvith plaudits, the 
ladies scattering Hozvers before them and the troops presenting arms. The sound 
of trumpets is heard. The trumpeters enter the quadrangle follozved by the 
herald and the seven knights of the Blended Rose, mounted on white horses, zvith 
their esquires. The procession moves around the field saluting the ladies. 

White Herald. — The Knights of the Blended Rose, by me their Herald pro- 
claim and assert that the Ladies of the Blended Rose excel in wit, beauty 
and every accomplishment those of the whole world, and should any knight 
or knights be so hardy as to dispute or deny it, they are ready to enter 
the lists with them and maintain their assertions by deeds of arms, accord- 
ing to the laws of ancient chivalry. 



38 The Historical Pageant 

Three times he makes the proclamation from different parts of the Held. 
Trumpets are heard again, announcing the Black Herald who parleys with the 
White Herald. He orders his trumpets to sound and proclaims defiance to the 
challenge. 

Black Herald. — The Knights of the Burning Mountain enter these lists not to 
contend with words, but to disprove by deeds of arms, the vainglorious 
assertions of the Knights of the Blended Rose, and to show that the ladies 
of the Burning Mountain as far excel all others in charms as the knights 
themselves surpass all others in prowess. 

Going out, he brings in the Black Knights all mounted on black horses, who 
ride around the Held, saluting the ladies. They draw up in front of the White 
Knights. The chief of the White Knights having throuon down his gauntlet, the 
chief of the Black Knights orders his esquire to take it up. The knights are 
presented with their shields and lances by their esquires. The trumpets sound 
the charge. At the -first meeting the lances are shivered; at the second and third 
charges, pistols are fired; at the fourth, swords are used. Then the chief knights 
of the opposing sides. Lord Cathcart and Captain Watson, ride to the centre of 
the field and engage in single combat with their szvords until parted by the 
Marshal who rushes upon the field. 

Marshal Gwynne. — Your fair ladies command you to desist from further com- 
bat as you prize their future favors. They are perfectly satisfied with the 
proofs of your love. 

The knights now form a line, each black knight beside a zvhite knight in 
token of the restoration of friendship. They ride in front of the stands, each 
saluting his lady. Flowers are showered upon them. 

The bands play and all sing "God Save the King." The officers, ladies and 
guests pass into the house, and so leaite the field. The troops pass off in the 
other direction. 



The Words of the Pageant 39 



EPISODE V 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

Franklin left Philadelphia on October 26, 1776, accredited as one of the American 
ambassadors to the court of France. His associates were Silas Deane and Arthur Lee. 
Congress had the hope of presenting the cause of the Colonies in such a light that 
the King would enter the war as an ally. An old rival of England on the American 
continent, a traditional enemy in Europe, it would be easy, it was conceived, to secure 
assistance in that quartei:. Franklin remained at Paris for nine years. From the 
beginning he outshone his colleagues. His fame had preceded him. His tactful 
conduct increased his vogue and his mission became one of the most remarkable in 
the history of diplomacy. He was a favorite at court and the idol of the people. 
His personality made him a principal influence in bringing about the treaty which, 
after the Battle of Germantown and the surrender of Burgoyne, was concluded between 
France and the United States. He and his associates were received at court in March, 
1778, when the alliance was publicly avowed and celebrated. He enjoyed another 
notable reception in April, 1779, in testimony of his appointment as the sole American 
plenipotentiary to France. It was on this occasion, according to tradition, that_ a 
lady of the court placed a wreath of laurel upon his brow (celebrated in the familiar 
picture at the court of France), but he was the recipient of so much attention of this 
kind at Versailles and elsewhere during his residence abroad that it is difficult to 
assign the scene which follows to a particular date. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Louis XVI, King of France. 

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. 

Princess Lamballe, her friend. 

Count de Vergennes, Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Ministers, nobles, ladies of honor, ladies in waiting, other ladies of the Court. 

Benjamin Franklin. 

Swiss Guards in their ancient dress, French soldiers, priests, etc. 

CHORUS 

Hail! Franklin, ambassador, brother, 

Philosopher, patriot, hail ! 
The love of our lands for each other 

Is a light that shall never turn pale. 

We bow to the roses of beauty. 

We drink to the fruit of the vine, 
But our paramount love is for our duty, — 

For the strength of the oak and pine. 

Our songs with all joys are a-quiver, 

Yet find their fruition in thee 
As the silvery laugh of the river 

Grows still in the calm of the sea. 

Hail ! Franklin, ambassador, brother 
Philosopher, patriot. Hail! 



40 The Historical Pageant 



The scene shows the ornamental gardens at Versailles. The King and Queen 
with their retinue enter. The priests cry, "Vivat Rex in aetermim!" Cries of 
"Vive Louis!" "Vive Antoinette!" "Long Live the King!" Franklin enters 
in a sedan chair, with two or three attendants, while the white lily-dotted 
Hag of the France of the Bourhorts is lowered in salute. There are cries 
of "Vive Franklin!" "Vive I'ambassadeur des treize provinces unies!" "Vive 
V Amerique !" "Vive le grand Franklin!" He steps from his sedan leaning upon 
a staff. With long grey locks unpowdered and his simple dress, he is welcomed 
as a kind of new Solon or Lycurgus. He is received by the King and Queen. 
A lady places a wreath upon his head and kisses his cheek. The ladies atid theif 
gentlemen attendants dance a minuet. 



The Words of the Pageant 



41 



EPISODE VI 



SCENE I 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

The bonds which held the states together after the Revolution were weak; they 
grew weaker as the enthusiasm of war subsided and made way for the interests and 
tasks of peace. During the summer of 1787, a convention of delegates from the states 
met at the State House under the presidency of General Washington and framed a 
Constitution. It was adopted on September 17th and was sent out at once to be 
ratified. It should become effective when nine states approved it. Delaware voted 
in its favor on December 7th, Pennsylvania on December 12th and New Jersey on 
December 13th. These three states were followed by Georgia, Connecticut, Massachu- 
setts, Maryland and South Carolina in the order named. The ninth state to ratify 
the Constitution was New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. Arrangements were at once 
begun for a celebration in Philadelphia for the 4th of July, 1788. Before that time, 
news was received that Virginia, the tenth state, had approved the work of the 
Convention. Only North Carolina, New York and Rhode Island remained out of the 
Union. The celebration took the form of a well planned parade through the streets, 
called the Federal Procession. Two structures, the Grand Federal Edifice or "New 
Roof", showing 13 columns, three of which were incomplete, and the Federal Ship 
Union built upon the lines of a frigate of the day, were marked objects. Many 
prominent citizens rode and walked in the procession which was dispersed at "Union 
Green" upon the grounds of "Bush Hill", the Hamilton mansion northwest of the 
city. Here James Wilson delivered an oration and there were other appropriate 
ceremonies. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 



John Nixon 

Thomas Fitzsimmons 

George Clymer 

Colonel John Shee 

Richard Bache 

Peter Muhlenberg 

Chief Justice McKean ^ 

Judge William Augustus Atlee l 

Judge Jacob Rush J 

Duncan Ingraham, New^ Hampshire 

Jonathan Williams, Jr., Massachusetts 

Jared Ingersoll, Connecticut 

Samuel Stockton, New Jersey 

James Wilson, Pennsylvania 

Col. Thomas Robinson, Delaware 

J. E. Howard, Maryland 

Col. Febiger, Virginia 

W. Ward Burrows, South Carolina 

George Meade, Georgia 



- Mounted figures in the Federal Procession 



of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 
in their robes of office. 



Representatives of the ten rati- 
fying states walking arm in arm 
with flags. 



42 The Historical Pageant 



Hilary Baker 

George Latimer 

John Wharton 

John Nesbitt Representatives of the citizens at large to whom the 

Samuel Morris | Constitution was committed by the Convention of 1787 

John Brown | ^^^^^^ -^^ ^^^ Federal Edifice. 

Tench Francis 

Joseph Anthony 

John Chaloner 

Benjamin Fuller 

Colonel William Williams in armor. 

Consuls and representatives of powers in Philadelphia in friendl}^ relations with 

the United States, — France, United Netherlands, Sweden, Prussia and 

Morocco. 
Thomas Bell who bears a flag of the United States. 
A citizen and an Indian chief smoking the calumet of peace. 
William Hamilton, the proprietor of "Bush Hill." 
Pelatiah Webster, merchant, economist and pamphleteer. 
Twelve axemen. 
Members of trade bodies in the procession, citizens, etc. 

The Chorus renders the ode composed by Francis Hopkinson in honor of the 
ratification of the Constitution]: 

"Oh ! for a muse of fire to mount the skies, 

And to a listening world proclaim — 
Behold! behold! an empire rise! 
An era new, Time as he flies. 

Hath entered in the book of Fame. 
On Alleghany's tow'ring head 
Echo shall stand — the tidings spread, 
And o'er the lakes and misty floods around 

An era new resound. 
See where Columbia sits alone, 
And from her star-bespangled throne 
Beholds the gay procession move along. 
And hears the trumpet and the choral song. 

She hears her sons rejoice — 
Looks into future times, and sees 
The num'rous blessings Heav'n decrees. 
And with her plaudit, joins the general voice. 
Hail to this festival! — all hail the day! 
Columbia's standard on her roof display ; 
And let the people's motto ever be : 
"United thus, and thus united, free!' " 




h-T 


re 




> 


O 




V 


jn 


(U 


o 


CO 


W 


2 


I-. 




S- 


o 


K 


W 




en 


u 






o 


c 


"H 




o 


« 






J3 


>. 


ti 


u 


T3 


C 




3 


ca 


pq 




^ 










"o 






U 







The Words of the Pageant 43 

The scene shows the space called "Union Green" in front of Hamilton's 
"Bush Hill." Disposed upon the Held, are the Federal Ship Union completely 
manned and the "New Roof" or Grand Federal Edifice with its thirteen Corinthian 
columns, three of which are incomplete, to indicate that three states yet remain out 
of the Union. 

The ten gentlemen who occupy chairs under the dome and tvho represent 
the citizens at large, vacate them and surrender their places to the ten repre- 
sentatives of the states who had earlier walked arm. in arm in the procession. 
The states are now declared to he "in unison" amid loud huzzas. Each delegate 
who enters the temple hangs the Hag which he carried in the procession, upon 
its appropriate column. Ten toasts in honor of the ten states are announced by 
trumpet and are followed by a discharge of artillery. 



SCENE II 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

George Washington was elected President and John Adams Vice-President of the 
Union which was established under the Constitution. Congress met and the govern- 
ment was started on its way in New York in April, 1789. It was soon resolved to 
place the capital in Philadelphia where it was to remain for ten years until a site 
could be prepared for a new city on the banks of the Potomac in the District of 
Columbia. Washington took up his residence in Philadelphia in November, 1790, and 
Congress met here a few days later. The President was everywhere acclaimed as 
"the hero of the Western world," and was the mark for many popular demonstrations. 
His arrival from and his departure for his "seat" in Virginia, his birthday, the Fourth 
of July and other occasions received ceremonious observance. The scene which 
follows represents the President at Gray's Gardens at Gray's Ferry, a handsomely 
embellished pleasure ground on the high road to the South, where he was so frequently 
a guest. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

George Washington. 

Mrs. Washington. 

John Adams. 

Mrs. Adams. 

Alexander Hamilton. 

Thomas Jefferson. 

Robert Morris. 

Mrs. Morris. 

William Bingham. 

Mrs. Bingham. 

Thomas Mifflin, President of Pennsylvania. 

Thomas McKean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. 

Major William Jackson. 

Other officers of the Federal and State Governments; ladies and gentlemen of 

Philadelphia. 
An escort of militiamen. 



44 The Historical Pageant 

The scene is Gray's Gardens early in Washington's first administration. 

"All love their own Schuylkill's romantic soft tide 
And pay their devotion at Gray's." 

Tea tables are set upon the green. A "Federal Temple" composed of an arch 
of twelve stones, one for each of the colonies already in the Union and a keystone 
for Rhode Island which has just ratified the Constitution. The Federal Ship 
"Union" which was used in the Federal Procession in iy88 and for several years 
afterzvard was a popular attraction at Gray's Gardens. The ladies and gentle- 
men representing the best Colonial society at the "Republican Court" enter and 
await the arrival of Washington. He comes on a white charger. Mrs. Wash- 
ington rides in the famous family coach. When the President is seen, the band 
strikes up "Washington's March." As he dismounts "God Save Great Washing- 
ton" set to the tune of "God Save the King" is sung. The crozvd shouts "Long 
Live Great Washington!" "Long live the Father of his Country!" Children 
wave a welcome from the ship "Union" which is entwined with French and 
American Hags. Thirteen young men dressed as shepherds and thirteen young 
women dressed as shepherdesses conic out of the grove and proceed to the 
"Federal Temple" where the keystone is put in place in honor of the ratiiication 
of Rhode Island. The Federal salute of thirteen guns is fired. 



SCENE III 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

As Washington's administration advanced the radicals allowed their sympathies 
for France, where the course of affairs underwent direful changes daily, to run away 
with their good sense. The Bastille fell in 1789, the year in which our republic was 
being established. Louis XVI was beheaded in January, 1793, and Marie Antoinette 
went to the guillotine in October, 1793. The birthday of the King of France was 
celebrated in Philadelphia no longer. France, too, would be a republic like the 
United States. Frenchmen as well as Americans would be free and equal — brothers 
of one great family. They had helped us to gain our liberties; we must now aid 
them. The first French republican minister to the United States was Citizen Edmund 
Charles Genet. He landed at Charleston, S. C, from a French frigate, "L' Ambus- 
cade," in April, 1793. The vessel came up the Delaware on May 2, with the bonnet rouge 
at its topmasts. Genet meanwhile proceeded northward overland, arousing the sym- 
pathies of the people along the way. He reached Gray's Ferry on May i6th, where 
he was welcomed by a crowd of citizens. The city went French mad, and the excite- 
ment continued for several years. Mobs of men, women and children, Americans, 
Frenchmen and West Indians, white, yellow and black, aimed to move Washington, 
John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Morris and the Federalists from the position 
of neutrality on the subject of French matters in Europe which they had assumed. 
The scene is a representation of one of several similar civic festivals in the French 
republican interest in the streets and squares, on the commons and in the pleasure 
gardens of Philadelphia. 



The Words of the Pageant 45 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Citizen Edmund Charles Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary from the Republic 

of France. 
M. de Ternant, the French Minister Resident under the monarchy. 
M. DE LA Forest, the Consul-general of France. 
Their secretaries and attendants. 
Citizen Bompard, commanding officer of the "L'Ambuscade," the French 

frigate, in the harbor, with a party of naval officers and sailors. 
David Rittenhouse. 
Charles Biddle. 
Jonathan D. Sergeant. 
P. S. Duponceau. 
James Hutchinson. 
A. J. Dallas. 
Thomas Leiper. 
Mathew Carey. 
Michael Leib. 

Other leading citizens of French sympathies. 
A mob of men, women and children in which many French people are seen. 

CHORUS 

Liberty glorious ! in thy name 

What crimes are wreaked on human kind ! 
Equality! what brands of shame. 

Forged from thy seal, burn reason blind ! 
Fraternity, that still should be 

The countersign of man to man, 
Alas ! that men should find in thee 

Excuse to thwart God's noblest plan! 

The scene is the ground at Centre Square where an obelisk is set up bearing 
inscriptions which indicate its dedication to liberty. The crowd enters to the 
music of "Yankee Doodle" which soon changes to "Ca Ira." 

Boys and girls take their places around the pedestal. Men walk two and 
two with oak boughs in their hands; women with flozuers which they strew 
around the pedestal. The crowd displays great animation, the boys and girls 
dancing, men giving each other the "fraternal embrace," calling each other "Citi- 
zen" and shouting "Vive la Republique!" "Live Free or Die!" etc. 

The Scene is made gay with the American Hag and the French tri-color., 
Men cmd women exhibit the tri-colored cockade in their hats and at their breasts. 
Some wear the red cap of liberty or hold it aloft on pike-staffs. When "Ca Irc^" 



46 The Historical Pageant 

is -finished the orchestra plays "La Carmagnole." Men and women now join 
hands and dance around liberty trees. One takes off his scarlet liberty cap and 
tosses it upon the ground; a croivd dances around it. As Genet enters, acconv- 
panied by Bompard and the sailors, he is given a -wild welcome. 

The crowd takes up the refrain and shouts, "Citizen Genet!" "The Republic 
of France!" "The rights of Man!" A crowd at one side of the field cries, 
"Long live the Friends of Liberty!" and another at the other side of the field 
responds, "Long Live the Friends of Liberty!" Fifteen guns boom the Federal 
salute from the river (Vermont and Kentucky having by this time joined the 
thirteen States in the Union.) The croivd after a while seizes Genet and he is 
carried off on their shoidders through the wood towards the river, singing the 
"Marseillaise." 

CHORUS 

"Ye sons of France, awake to glory, 

Hark ! Hark ! Wliat myriads bid thee rise. 
Your children, wives and grandsires hoary. 

Behold their tears and hear their cries. 
Shall hateful tyrants mischief breeding 

With hireling hosts, a ruffian band, 

Affright and desolate the land. 
While peace and liberty lie bleeding? 

To arms ! To arms ! ye brave ! 

Th' avenging sword unsheath ! 
March on ! March on ! All hearts resolved 

On victory or death !" 

As the sound dies away in the distance the chords of a stately chant are 
heard, and the Chorus sings. 

CHORUS 

Land of a thousand hills. 

Land of far rolling plains. 

Think of thy destiny, noble, uplifting, — 

Think of thy mother's pangs. 

Dear land of liberty. 

Think of the patriot blood 

Shed at thy birthing. 

Then shall thy soul abhor 

License that murders shame. 

Then shall thy vision clear 

See what a gulf divides 

License from Liberty. 



The Words of the Pageant 47 



SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

Dream of the days that lent 
Sunlight and life to thee. 



SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

Hope for the days to come. 
Regal, resplendent. 



CHORUS 

Dream of the days that were, 
Hope for the days to come, 
Land of a thousand hills. 
Dear land of Liberty ! 

As the last lines are sung the figure of President Washington, mounted as 
in the last scene, appears at one side of the field. He brings his steed to a full 
stop and looks toward the river. He is espied by the rear gxmrd of the mob. 
Many turn, and, running, croivd around him. Recovering their mental aplomb, 
they cheer him lustily. He rides up the Held and moves oif to the strains of the 
"President's March." 



48 The Historical Pageant 



EPISODE VII 

HISTORICAL NOTE 

The establishment of a national feeling was diflficult until after a second war 
with Great Britain. French and English sympathies which had formed a dividing 
ground for parties for years then made way for a strong native sentiment and for 
some purely American ideals. Embargoes and non-intercourse acts, outrages upon 
shipping at sea led in 1812 to open hostilities. Armed vessels went out and came 
in to the Delaware. The heroes of sea battles were honored by the people. The town 
of Lewes was bombarded in 1813 and some companies of volunteers under Brigadier 
General Joseph Bloomfield started south to protect the approaches of the city. The 
news of the landing of the army, the sack of Washington and the advance upon 
Baltimore in the next year created the greatest excitement. Able-bodied citizens 
went out each morning to work upon the redoubts which were planned to guard 
the southern roads. The militiamen, formed into picturesque companies, — prominent 
among which was one still in existence at this day, the State Fencibles — went into camp 
ready for duty at need. At last the unsuccessful bombardment of Fort McHenry and 
the defeat of the invading army near Baltimore caused great rejoicing and Phila- 
delphia was safe. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. 

General Bloomfield. 

General Thomas Cadwalader. 

General Isaac Worrell. 

Colonel Clement C. Biddle. 

Stephen Girard. 

David Parish, and other citizens. 

Messengers. 

State Fencibles, Washington Guards, and other militia companies, 

A mob of men, women and children. 

CHORUS 

Once more to arms the country calls. 

Once more o'er fertile plain and mountain. 
Hark ! how the martial summons falls 

Athwart the visage of each placid fountain. 
Up freemen in your might 
For God and for the right 
Drive out the foe. 

The arena represents a square in the city. The scene is suggested by one of 
Krinimel's pictures of a Philadelphia crowd at this period. Military companies are 
marching and there is much commotion. Prominent among these are the newly 
formed State Fencibles and the Washington Guards, a crack Federalist company. 
A procession of men with spades and mattocks thrown over their shoidders, and 
food in knapsacks on their backs, start off for work on the redoubts. 



The Words of the Pageant 49 

The horn of an express is heard. He comes up to the front of the Held and 
shouts, "The British have landed at North Point! They are headed for Balti- 
more!" 

Shouts of derision and defiance. Men seize arms. The militia companies 
pass off as though going to the war, the women waving their farewells. 

In a little while another express rides in on a foaming steed. The people 
press around him. He shouts, "The British have been defeated at North Point, 
and their general. Lord Ross, is killed!" Cheers are heard on all sides. "Huzza 
for the brave Baltimore ans!" "Our city is safe!" etc. An old "seventy-sixer" 
waves his hands and is followed by a crozvd of boys as he goes off to announce the 
news in other parts of the city. The militia companies again come upon the field 
bearing the American Hag. The bands play the first chords of the "The Star 
Spangled Banner." The music is taken up by the Chorus: 

"Oh ! say can you see by the dawn's early light, 

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, 

Whose stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight, 

O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming ; 

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. 
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. 

Chorus — "Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ! 

"Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand 

Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation ; 

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land 
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. 

Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just. 
And this be our motto, 'In God is our trust.' 

Chorus — "And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, 
While the land of the free is the home of the brave !" 



50 The Historical Pageant 



EPISODE VIII 



HISTORICAL NOTE 

In 1824 Lafayette revisited the United States. He was accompanied by his son, 
George Washington Lafayette. He came to Philadelphia late in September and was 
the recipient of a round of attentions. The survivors of the Revolutionary era were 
gathered to welcome him. He was met at the end of the Trenton bridge by the military 
and escorted into the city under arches, amid transparencies, through hurrahing crowds. 
The First City Troop and the Washington Grays had the prominent places around 
Lafayette's barouche. Not in many years, if ever, had the city known such a cele- 
bration. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS 

General Lafayette. 

George Washington Lafayette. 

Governor Shulze. 

Judge Richard Peters, of Belmont. 

Mayor Watson. 

Joseph S. Lewis. 

William Rush. 

John M. Scott. 

Aquila a. Browne. 

James Wilmer. 

Benjamin Tilghman. 

John Swift. 

Other prominent citizens. 

A crowd of men, women and children. 

Washington Grays and other military companies. 



> Members of the Committee of Councils. 



CHORUS 

He comes again as in our direst need 

He came to succor a fast fading cause ; 
He comes, the witness of a glorious deed 

To meet a people's unrestrained applause, — 
To breathe the fragrance of the flower whose seed 
His patriot hands deep planted in our laws, 

Hail to the friend who heard our country's cry, 
Great Lafayette, our Washington's ally ! 

The scene shows the reception to Lafayette in Philadelphia in 1824. The 
"Nation's Guest," with Judge Peters, occupies a barouche. His son, George 
Washington Lafayette, follows in another carriage. They are escorted by troops. 



The Words of the Pageant 51 

On transparencies are seen "A Nation's Welcome to Freedom's Friend," "Wel- 
come to the Nation's Guest," "Yorktown, Monmouth and Brandywine," etc. 
Lafayette horvs his acknowledgments. 

In front of the stand Lafayette dismounts and proposes a toast: 

"The City of Philadelphia — where American Independence was first pro- 
claimed and where the holy alliance of public order with popular institutions is 
every day happily demonstrated." 

He reenters his carriage and all move off to the strains of a march. 



52 The Historical Pageant 



EPILOGUE 



HISTORICAL NOTE 

The growth of the city was continuous, but in government the people came under 
29 separate jurisdictions. The old city lying between the Delaware and the Schuylkill 
and Vine and South Streets had a population in 1850 of 121,376. The county had 
408,762 inhabitants. Where the city ended and the suburbs began could not be 
determined by the eye. Houses extended in unbroken blocks north of Vine street 
and south of South street, but the people were politically separate. Included in the 
county were ten corporations, six boroughs and thirteen townships. The corporations 
were the old city and the districts of Southwark, Northern Liberties, Kensington, 
Spring Garden, Penn, Moyamensing, Richmond, West Philadelphia and Belmont; the 
six boroughs, Germantown, Frankford, Manayunk, Bridesburg, Whitehall and Ara- 
mingo; the thirteen townships, Passyunk, Blockley, Kingsessing, Roxborough, Gei- 
mantown, Bristol, Oxford, Moreland, Byberry, Northern Liberties, Penn, Lower 
Dublin and Delaware. The evils of divided authority with the rioting fire companies 
and their ruffianly adherents were at length too great to be borne any longer and 
in 1854 all the districts, boroughs and townships were consolidated with the city. 
The city became coterminous with the county and a new era had begun. 

The orchestra gives the theme of the psalm to be sung, and the Chorus sings: 

CHORUS 

God of our fathers, in whose palm 

Lie all the fates of all the years, 
Whose voice hath bid the sea be calm 

And sealed the founts of all men's tears ; 
Grant to the city of our love 

The greatness that doth spring from Thee. 
The civic pride that soars above 

The petty strifes of policy : 
Give heed to our ascending psalm 

And turn to trust our sordid fears, 
God of our fathers, in whose palm 

Lie all the fates of all the years. 



SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

For thou hast bid the sea be calm 

And sealed the founts of all men's tears. 



SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

And thou wilt hearken to our psalm 
And turn to trust our sordid fears. 



The Words of the Pageant 53 

FULL CHORUS 
City of regal diadems, 

From history claim thy just renown, 
And gather up, like scattered gems, 

The jewels to stud a flawless crown; 
Take to thy breast these daughters fair 

Whose being is a part of thee. 
While down the aisles of lambent air 

Float swelling strains of melody. 
Thy onward march no envy stems 

Nor any voice thy song can drown, 
City of regal diadems 

Whose brows support a flawless crown. 

SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

For thou hast garnered scattered gems 
To glorify thy flawless crown. 

SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

And thou shalt wear new diadems 
While men shall sing thy just renown. 

A herald, mounted on a richly caparisoned horse, rides into the arena from 
the northivest corner of the Held. After a blast on his trumpet, he announces in 
a loud voice the names of the coming Districts: Spring Garden, the borough of 
Germantown, Germantoivn Tozvnship, Penn Tozvnship, South Penn, Manayunk, 
Roxborough. He pauses after each name, and the symbolical figure of the dis- 
trict or borough appears. 

Similarly another Herald rides in from the northeast corner of the field. He 
gives a blast on his trumpet, and announces: The District of Northern Liberties, 
the Township of Northern Liberties, Kensington, Aramingo, White Hall, Lower 
Dublin, Delazvare, Moreland, Byberry, Richmond, Frankford, Bridesburg, Bristol, 
Oxford. The symbolical figures appear as in the former instance. 

A Herald rides in from the southwest corner of the field, and after a trumpet 
blast announces: West Philadelphia, Belmont, Blockley, Kingsessing. The figures 
appear as announced. 

Again a Herald rides in from the southeast corner of the field, giving 
a trumpet blast announcing: Southwark, Moyamen^ing, Passyunk. The 
figures appear as announced. 

Now a matronly figure is seen. She represents Philadelphia. The sez'eral 
districts form around her. 

The figure "Philadelphia" ascends a platform at back, and the several dis- 
tricts are grouped or form a pyramid about her. The national and the city 
colors are broken out from flag poles at the rear, the bands playing "America." 



54 The Historical Pageant 



As this ceases, the Chorus, accompanied by the orchestra, sings: 

CHORUS 

God of our fathers in whose palm 

Lie all the fates of all the years, 
Give heed to our ascending psalm 

And turn to trust our sordid fears. 

SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

For Thou hast bid the sea be calm 

And sealed the founts of all men's tears, 

SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

And Tliou wilt hearken to our psalm 
And turn to trust our sordid fears. 

CHORUS 

City of regal diadems, 

From history claim thy just renown. 
And gather up, like scattered gems, 

The jewels to stud a flawless crown. 

SEMI-CHORUS (Remembrance) 

Thy onward march no envy stems, 
Nor any voice thy song can drown, 

SEMI-CHORUS (Aspiration) 

City of regal diadems, 
Whose brows support a flawless crown. 

CHORUS 

Give heed to our ascending psalm, 

And turn to trust our sordid fears, 
God of our fathers in whose palm 

Lie all the fates of all the years. 

All the performers enter and are given their places upon the Held for a grand 
tableau. One line after another is put into motion, and the performers in proces- 
sion pass before the grand stand, and off the field. The symbolical figures remain 
in position while the "March Past" progresses and are the last to leave the scene. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 312 346 7 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

014 312 346 7 i 



HoUinger 
pH 8.5 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



014 312 346 



